Saturday 23rd December 2023

 

1,595 Cormorant went out fishing with 1,350 of these an hour later than the early risers so obviously not roosting nearby. Southbound 33 Shelduck, 4 Red-throated Diver, 2 Brent & 2 Razorbill with northbound 73 Red-throats & 8 Brent plus a dozen Kitts & a Gannet offshore. On site a very predictable selection including 2 Mipit & a Cetti's. 2 Collared Dove were the first of the month (following on from only two November records) as the decline in this species, that a lot of people take for granted, continues.

Friday 22nd December 2023

 

942 Cormorant headed out fishing plus 291 in from the north & 25 in from the south. Southbound 7 Shelduck, 5 Common Scoter, 3 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Brent & Gadwal with northbound 14 Red-throated Diver & 2 Brent plus at least 58 kitts around shipping & 2 Razorbill on the sea. The Rock Pipit is still feeding along the tide wrack line.

Thursday 21st December 2023

 

Wild n' windy with yet more gale force gusts just into Force 9. Offshore southbound 9 Brent, 4 Shelduck, 3 Common Scoter, 3 Red-throated Diver, Pomarine Skua & Barwit with northbound 2 Red-throats. At least 120 Common Scoter a long way out to the north of us and at least 24 Kitts were following shipping. 3 Razorbill is equal to our 4th highest day count for this species in over 40 years of records is concerning as it suggests that they might be having a food shortage in there usual wintering grounds and are being forced to wander ? Still single Cetti's, Meadow & Rock Pipit on the reserve.

Wednesday 20th December 2023

 

143 Cormorant headed out fishing (numbers have been almost non-existent recently). Southbound 9 Brent, 3 Red-throated Diver, 2 Velvet Scoter, Shelduck & Skylark with northbound 13 Red-throats. 120 Common Scoter were on the sea well out to the north of us. At least one Cetti's still with us.

Tuesday 19th December 2023

 Rain all day - no coverage.

Monday 18th December 2023

 

A survey of the lepidoptera in Left Battery produced 21 Peacock butterflies & a Bloxworth Snout but no Herald moths. 4 Natterer's Bats probably explains the lack of Herald's as this bat has a penchant for them when they get peckish in the winter months. 

Migrants this morning were a Fieldfare plus a Skylark heading south. About 100 Common Scoter were a long way out.

Sunday 17th December 2023

 

Gulls following shipping have increased to 2,000 ish but with glorious sunny conditions looking through them for owt odd far from ideal. 6 Wigeon flew south but otherwise 'same old same old'.